Longtanhu Park

This year's Longtanhu Temple Fair will feature more than 100 activities as part of its theme of "eulogizing the nation and welcoming Macau's return to the Motherland." A large dragon dance contest will be held, with competitors from Macau joining in. A chess competition will be held in Longyinge Pavilion. Besides the routine folklore activities, the fair will include some modern touches, such as a car exhibition and real estate promotion.

Date: Februrary 15-21

Bus: 116, 60, 6, 352, 12, 807

Information: 86 (0)10- 5166 1575, 8521 9699

White Cloud Temple

This quiet Daoist Temple will be turned into a busy marketplace during the spring festival. Besides calligraphy, seal cutting, a stamp exchange and Beijing folklore performances, the traditional activities such as "touching the three godly monkeys" at the gate and riding the donkeys attract large crowds each year.

Date: February 16-21

Ticket: 10 yuan.

Information: 86 (0)10- 5166 1575, 8521 9699

Ditan Park

This is one of the city's busiest temple fairs. The park is the site of the altar where sacrifices were formerly offered to the earth, and this year's fair will open with a performance imitating the Qing Dynasty sacrificial ceremony. Activities and events during the fair will include acrobatics shows, karaoke, folk performances, children's puppet shows, shadow plays, Suzhou opera, a folk arts and crafts exhibition, fashion show, Beijing folklore show, traditional Chinese clothes show, flower show, and flea market, food street and bookstore street.

Yonghegong subway, bus 13, 116, 62 for the south gate; trolley bus 104, 108, or bus 27, 358, 119, 407, 18, 328, 803 or 912 for west gate.

Ticket: 10 yuan.

Information: 86 (0)10- 5166 1575, 8521 9699

Grand View Garden

This served as the set for the famous TV series "A Dream of Red Mansions," based on the classic Chinese novel of the same name. A large parade of the imperial family and the "twelve beauties" as described in the novel, plus a Peking opera performance based on "A Dream of Red Mansions" will be the main attractions here.

Amazingly, you can apparently see cock fighting at this fair. There will also be xiangsheng performances, a fashion show, and a traditional Chinese concert. Alternatively, do some shopping at the book market and Beijing folk arts and crafts market, try Tianjin and local snacks, or just take a horse ride around the garden.

Bus: 351, 122, 59

Time: Jan. 16-21

Information: 86 (0)10- 5166 1575, 8521 9699